falls, “but I’m not going to make that mistake again.”
Chapter Sixteen
Kallie
It all happened so fast it’s a whirlwind, even thinking about it now. For the first time, I didn’t care that I was back in my old town. I didn’t care that people were probably sitting there just to see how I would react. I didn’t care that tomorrow my mother’s phone would be ringing off the hook with stories about tonight.
I got on that dance floor and left all my problems at the door. I kicked up my cowboy boots and loved every single minute of it. Knowing deep inside I was pushing things, but I didn’t think anything of it. Nothing happens in this town, but oh, how I was wrong.
The whole night, Casey was right there beside us, making sure we were okay, his jaw clenching each time Olivia would swing her hips. His eyes were glaring when someone would get too close. I snickered to myself more than once and then all hell broke loose.
I was almost pushed to the side, but then suddenly I felt hands around my waist, and for the first time tonight, fear set in. That is, until I looked over my shoulder and saw Jacob.
My heart sped up, and it wasn’t because I heard a brawl right behind me. No, it was speeding up because Jacob was touching me, and there was nothing I could do about it. My head hated him, yet my heart loved him. The warm air hit me right away when we got outside, and I thought for sure he would let me go. I was banking on it, but he didn’t. All he did was mumble to himself.
“What the hell, Jacob?” Words finally come out, and I curse at him.
“You could have gotten hurt in there.” Stopping, he puts me down right next to his truck and opens the door. In the darkness of the night, the lights from the stars and full moon shine on his face, and I see the anger. Anger and a mix of something else. Something I’m not sure I want to know. “But did you stop and think of that?”
“It’s none of your business,” I hiss; the nerve of him.
Apparently, in the eight years I’ve been away, Jacob’s patience was cut thin. “Get in the truck, Kallie.” He advances on me, not giving me enough room to do anything but get in the truck. I try to waste time, thinking Casey is going to come out any minute now with Olivia over his shoulder, and he’ll save me.
“No fucking way.” Shaking my head, I look around.
“Fine by me,” he says, and then I know he isn’t joking. His tone made it clear he was done having a discussion with me. One second, I’m standing here, and the next, his hands are around my waist and picking me up like I’m light as a feather and putting me in the passenger seat. All I can do is look at him in shock that he just did that. He gets so close to me that I have to hold my breath. “I dare you to run.” His tone is fierce and menacing. “I didn’t catch you eight years ago,” he finally says, and my mouth opens at that. “But I’m not going to make that mistake again.”
He slams the door closed, and I’m stuck here in the seat as if he put crazy glue down, and I can’t move. He gets into the truck and starts it and pulls out of the parking lot. We see Casey pulling out at the same time, and all they do is nod at each other. He turns down the pitch-black road, and he presses his Bluetooth to call Casey. He answers after one ring, and his voice is tight. “What?”
“Just giving you a heads-up that Kallie isn’t going home right away,” he says, and my head snaps up to him.
“What the fuck are you talking about, Jacob?” Casey says, and all Jacob does is disconnect the call.
“Jacob, I want you to take me home,” I say, and he just shakes his head.
“There are things that need to be said,” he says, and then he makes his way to the creek. I know he’s going there.
“We can talk tomorrow over coffee.” My hand holds onto the door for dear life. My heart is beating so fast all I can do is hear the echoes in my ears.
He doesn’t say anything to me when he parks the